Luggage carrier handle



LUGGAGE CARRIER HANDLE Filed July 28, 1930 @co'@@@@@@@QQQGQQQQQQQQQQ QQ INVENTOR.

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Ratentecl May 16, 1933 PATENT r ce WILLIAM C. GHESNUT, OF RACINE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR 'IO HARTMANN TRUNK COMPANY, OF RACINE WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN LUGGAGE CARRIER HANDLE Application filed July 28,

The present invention relates to improvements in the art of manufacturing luggage carriers and especially the handles thereof.

A general object of the invention is to provide an improved luggage carrier handle or the like which is simple and durable in construction.

It has heretofore been common practice in the manufacture of luggage carriers, to provide carrier handles formed of strips of leather or other tenacious, flexible material bent fiatwise upon themselves to provide U- shaped uninterrupted end portions and an intervening gripping portion, the end portions of these handles being pivotally associated with the luggage carrier cases by means of metal loops coacting with said end portions. The upper and lower portions of these prior handles are sewed together by stitching which extends longitudinally of the gripping portions of the handles, and the handles are ordinarily covered with leather or other neat appearing sheet material. In order to complete the finished appearance of these prior handles, it has also been customary to glue a band of the covering material around each end of the handle closely adjacent to each of the metal end loops, but due to the flexibility of the material from which these handles are constructed, and also due to the constant abuse to which they are subjected by the baggage men, the prior handles tend to tear at the stitching and when this happens, the end loops quickly tear the finishing bands from the handles and enhance the complete destruction thereof.

It is a more specific object of the present invention to provide improvements in the construction of luggage carrier handles of this general type which will increase the life of such handles, and whereby the neat appearance thereof will not be marred by ordinary use and customary abuse. The invention contemplates the provision of a relatively strong clamping member or ring substantially encircling each end of the handle closely adjacent to each of the end loops, whereby possibility of tearing of the stitching is reduced and consequent destruction 1930. Serial No. 471,371.

or deformation of the handle is substantially prevented.

A clear conception of an embodiment of the invention and of the mode of constructing luggage carrier handles in accordance therewith, may be had by referring to the drawing accompanying and forming a part of this specification in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts in the several views:

Fig. 1 is a part sectional side elevation of one of the improved luggage carrier handles, showing the same applied to a fragment of a luggage carrier case;

Fig. 2 is a top view of one of the improved luggage carrier handles;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse section through one of the luggage carrier handles showing a fragment of the loop which is pivotally associated therewith, the section being taken along the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4: is a similarly enlarged transverse section through the luggage carrier handle, the section being taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing which discloses one embodiment of the improvement by way of illustration, the luggage carrier handle comprises a body portion 5 pivotally associated with a luggage carrier case 8 by means of solid metal loops 6 pivotally engaging the opposite ends of the body portion 5 and pivotally coacting with loop fasteners 7 which are rigidly attached to the case 8. The luggage carrier handle is ordinarily formed of one or more strips 11 of leather bent upon themselves to provide U shaped portions at the ends of the body portion 5, the ends 12 of the strips 11 meeting at the lower portion of the handle. While leather is customarily employed in the formation of these handles, any other tenacious material may be utilized. The upper and lower portions of the leather strips 11 coact along surfaces 10, and are firmly united by means of stitching 13 extending longitudinally of the body portion of the handle. A similar piece 14 of leatheror the like may also be utilized at the top of the handle. in order togive the structure proper shape, and the entire handle is enclosedwithin a covering 15 of suitable material such as thin leather or leather composition sheeting. The side edges of this sheeting, are clamped between the upper and lower portions of the handle, and the entire covering 15 is preferably glued upon the internal handle structure.

The loops 6 which are pivoted in the U- shaped end portions of the handle ma either pivot directly upon the bends of the leather strips, or they may be provided with metal bearing pieces embedded within the handle. Directly adjacent to the loops 6, are clamping members or retaining rings 9, preferably formed of metal or other strong material. The rings 9 may be formed as ill-shaped pieces having sharp projections or points 16 formed integral with the ends thereof, and these lJ-sha ed pieces may be slippez. downwardly over the ends of the handle and the bifurcations thereof subsequently d... sorted to embed the points 16 within he handle as illustrated in Fig. 3. As it is custonn to provide the carrier cse 8 with protecting corners, the appearance of the structure enhanced by utilizing the same kind of material that is uti lized for these corners and for other fittings of the case 8, in the formation of the clamping rings 9. The rings 9 need not necessarily be formed as ti -shaped pieces, nor is it necessary that they be provided with the end points 16, since these rings may obviously be formed in dili'erent ways while accom- 'zlishing the same desirable results.

The clamping rings 9 may also be varied. in shape without departing from the present invention, but they must be adapted to prevent spreading of the handle at the surtaces 10 directly adjacent to the loops 6. With the handle thus constructed, the loops 6 are prevented from moving away from their axes of swing and therefore cannot tear the stitching 13. These rings 9 in no manner interfere with the normal use of the handle, and obviously enhance the appearance thereof and produce a more me chanical construction than that previously used for similar purposes. The rings 9 also tend to retain the covering 15 in place, this covering having its ends disposed within the longitudinal division formed adjacent to the surfaces 10.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the invention provides a luggage carrier handle or the like which is simple and durable in construction and which will Withstand consioerable abuse Without destruction thereof. The clamping rings 9 maybe applied at relatively slight cost and effectively maintain the loops 6 in proper pivotal association with the ends of the handle.

It should be understood that it is not d sired to limit the invention to the exact details of construction herein shown and described, for various modifications within the scope of the claims may occur to persons skilled in the art.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

A handle comprising, a pair of solid metal end loops, a plurality of leat ier strips bent flatwise upon each other and through said loops to provide U-shaped end portions pivotally supporting the loops, the ends of .aid strips being joined intermediate said loops and the upper and lower stretches thereof being connected by stitching extending from one of said U-shaped end portions to the other, and clamping rings snugly e111- bracing said ll-shaped strip portions closely adjacent to said .lobps to prevent shifting of the pivotal loop axes and tearing of the stitching, said rings being fixed against dis placement away from the adjacent loops due to pressureapplied from the loops against the rings.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

WILLIAM C. OHESNUT. 

